Cong alleges vendetta; submits memo to PC

Accusing the ruling regime of political vendetta, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) has sought the intervention of the union home ministry to rein in the state government to put an end to the reign of terror let loose on party workers.

The PPCC demanded that either an inquiry commission should be set up or a probe should be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to get to the bottom of the truth. It also requested the home ministry to take the Punjab Police to task for registration of false cases against Congress workers.

In a memorandum submitted to home minister P Chidambaram at the Attari-Wagah ICP (Integrated Check Post) on Friday, Congress legislature party (CLP) leader Sunil Jakhar listed fresh cases registered against party workers after the assembly polls.

Copies of the memorandum were distributed among mediapersons at Amritsar before Jakhar left for the border to attend the inauguration of the ICP by Chidambaram.

"The SAD-BJP government after coming to power has let loose a fresh wave of terror apparently in view of the Lok Sabha polls in 2014 and is hell bent on destroying and demoralising the rank and file of the Congress in the state," the memorandum said.

The memorandum alleged that totally false and fabricated criminal cases were being registered and those who had joined the Congress during the election campaign are on the hit-list of deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who holds the home portfolio.

"Police, at the instance of Akali ministers, MLAs and jathedars, are openly hunting Congress workers. Many of our workers have fled their homes and gone into hiding to avoid arrests," claimed the memorandum.

Earlier addressing mediapersons, Jakhar referred to the assurances given by chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on the floor of the state assembly that no one, irrespective of his political affiliation, will be harassed.

"Badal asked for 15 days' time in the assembly for getting back to me on the cases of political vendetta, which I had brought to his notice. This period has lapsed, but I have not heard from the chief minister. I think he is not serious on this issue," Jakhar said while referring to cases registered against his party leaders and workers during the previous term of Badal as chief minister.

"I know that law and order is a state subject, but in the prevailing scenario in Punjab we are left with no option but to seek the intervention of the home minister," said Jakhar.In the memorandum, the Congress alleged that the chief minister was lying by saying there was no case of political vendetta in Punjab.

It also highlighted "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state and referred to the smuggling of narcotics and the failure on part of the law enforcing agencies to check the flow of drugs into the state.

The memorandum also alleged that goons backed by Akali leaders were grabbing properties of others and were also controlling liquor business in the state.